Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday inaugurated a Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence at Tech City, Bongora, a facility anticipated to generate more than 2,500 employment opportunities across the region.

The new centre is poised to significantly strengthen Assam’s manufacturing capabilities and foster a culture of innovation by providing access to advanced digital design, additive manufacturing, and rapid prototyping technologies. Officials expect it to play a crucial role in accelerating new product development and enhancing the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

What was announced

Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma officially inaugurated the Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Tech City, Bongora, in the Kamrup district. The inauguration was part of a larger event where the Chief Minister also launched the first MBA batch of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati at its transit campus in the same Tech City.

The centre was established under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DeVINE) Scheme, with funding from the Government of India through the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER). It was implemented by the Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AMTRON) in partnership with the North Eastern Council. The project cost for the centre is estimated at Rs 53.84 crore.

Why it matters

The Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence is expected to be a catalyst for industrial growth and skill development in Assam. Chief Minister Sarma said the facility would strengthen the state’s manufacturing ecosystem by promoting innovation, rapid prototyping, and indigenous product development across multiple sectors.

The facility is projected to create over 2,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities across the region. This initiative aligns with the state government’s broader vision to transform Assam into a manufacturing and innovation hub in the Northeast, attracting investments and fostering technology-driven industrial growth.

The centre aims to provide industries and entrepreneurs with access to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, including advanced digital design, additive manufacturing, and rapid prototyping capabilities. It is designed to support innovation in critical sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, energy, agriculture, and other emerging industries, enabling faster product design, testing, and development.

Background

The establishment of this centre is part of Assam’s intensified efforts to develop Tech City at Bongora as a leading hub for technology, electronics manufacturing, and digital innovation in Northeast India. The Tech City project, built across nearly 100 acres, is envisioned as an integrated Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) and Information Technology Park. Previous initiatives at Tech City include a 5G Experience Centre and a Drone Remote Pilot Training School, alongside the transit campus for IIM Guwahati.

Assam has been actively pursuing policies to boost its manufacturing sector and attract investments. The Assam Industrial Policy 2023, for instance, aims to attract ₹10,000 crore in investment by 2028 and offers capital subsidies and land incentives. The state’s startup policy also emphasizes creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting manufacturing-based startups, and generating local employment.

The state government has also introduced policies like the Assam Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) Policy 2025, which aims to attract investments in the electronics sector, strengthen local manufacturing, promote skill development, and create jobs. These policies collectively aim to reduce dependence on imports and position Assam as a self-reliant manufacturing hub.

Key details

The Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence is a state-of-the-art facility equipped to promote cutting-edge technology, encourage entrepreneurship, and enhance skill development. It is designed as a regional common resource facility, following a Hub-and-Spoke model. The main hub is located at Tech City, Guwahati, with ten operational spokes planned across the North Eastern Region.

The centre’s capabilities include advanced design software, additive manufacturing technologies, and rapid prototyping facilities. These resources will enable researchers, students, startups, and industries to convert ideas into commercially viable products with shorter development cycles. The facility has already trained approximately 880 individuals and benefited nearly 1,680 people, according to official data.

The centre will accelerate the adoption of digital design and 3D printing technologies across various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, MSMEs, oil and gas, mining, agriculture, and education. This is expected to promote indigenous manufacturing, facilitate import substitution, and enhance supply-chain resilience.

Reactions

“The Centre of Excellence would bring advanced digital design, additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping capabilities to Assam, providing industries and entrepreneurs access to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies,” Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said. “This will also accelerate new product development and encourage our MSMEs to build solutions right here in Assam, India, acting as a very potent import substitution tool.”

The Chief Minister further stated that the facility would accelerate innovation in key sectors, including healthcare, aerospace, energy, and agriculture, enabling faster product development. He also highlighted that the centre would provide a platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to design, develop, and manufacture innovative solutions within the state.

A senior official, familiar with the development, argued that the facility would help bridge the gap between research and industry while encouraging the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, contributing to Assam’s industrial diversification and supporting the country’s broader goal of enhancing self-reliance through domestic manufacturing.

What’s next

The Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence is expected to become an integral part of Assam’s Industry 4.0 ecosystem, fostering innovation, advanced skill development, and academia-industry collaboration. The state government is preparing a comprehensive roadmap for the effective utilisation of the infrastructure established at Tech City, focusing on attracting startups, research organisations, and technology-driven industries.

The Chief Minister has repeatedly emphasised the importance of technology-driven industrial growth as Assam seeks to attract investments under its broader vision of transforming the state into a manufacturing and innovation hub in the Northeast. The ongoing development of Tech City, with facilities like the IIM Guwahati transit campus and other innovation centres, indicates a sustained push towards making Assam a key player in the region’s technological landscape.

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